Hamas Signals Readiness to Step Down in Gaza Amid Direct Talks with U.S.
“We have also told the Americans, we are ready to, again, to hand over the government immediately if we reach an end of this war,” senior Hamas official Dr. Basem Naim revealed.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a pivotal turn in the ongoing Gaza conflict, Hamas has confirmed that it is engaged in direct peace negotiations with the United States and is prepared to relinquish governance of the Gaza Strip under certain conditions. According to an exclusive report by Sky News, senior Hamas official Dr. Basem Naim revealed that the group has submitted its peace proposal through mediators and “directly with some persons in the U.S. administration.”
The group’s demands include a prisoner exchange, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, unfettered humanitarian access, and reconstruction efforts in Gaza free from forced displacement. Most significantly, Dr. Naim told Sky News that Hamas is ready to immediately “hand over the government” of Gaza if a ceasefire is achieved. “We have also told the Americans, we are ready to, again, to hand over the government immediately if we reach an end of this war,” he stated.
The peace initiative, according to the Sky News interview, is rooted in Hamas’s acceptance of an Egyptian proposal to establish a politically independent Palestinian body to govern Gaza. “We accepted an Egyptian peace proposal which is talking about forming a Palestinian, independent, politically unaffiliated body to run the Gaza Strip,” Dr. Naim said, while also reiterating the group’s right to armed resistance under occupation.
Addressing U.S. President Donald Trump directly, Dr. Naim emphasized Hamas’s willingness to work with him to achieve peace.
“I think President Trump can do it if he exercises enough pressure on the Israelis to end this war immediately. And we are ready to cooperate with him to achieve this goal of a more peaceful region,” he said. The statement reflects a strategic pivot by Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2006 and is designated a terrorist organization by both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Responding to the developments, White House National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt told Sky News that Hamas “has not demonstrated they are serious about peace” and emphasized that President Trump “has been clear Hamas must lay down their arms.”
Hewitt further criticized Hamas for continuing to detain hostages, including American citizens, stating, “Hamas continues to wrongfully hold hostages, including American bodies, in the dungeons of Gaza.”
Despite the skepticism from Washington, the confirmation of direct communication between the U.S. administration and Hamas marks a significant diplomatic shift. As Sky News noted, this is one of the most consequential revelations since the outbreak of the war.
During a recent press briefing in Qatar before departing for the United Arab Emirates, the final stop on his Gulf tour, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his tough stance on Hamas while floating a controversial vision for the future of Gaza. He proposed transforming the besieged enclave into what he described as a U.S.-controlled "freedom zone," though the specifics of the plan remain vague.
"I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good — make it a freedom zone, let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone. Have a real freedom zone," he told reporters.
President Trump’s current Middle East tour, which includes stops in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia—but pointedly not Israel—has fueled speculation about potential breakthroughs. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated military operations in Gaza, ordering nightly airstrikes and maintaining a blockade that continues to choke humanitarian relief, deepening the crisis.
